Cremation Jewelry

Right after cremating the remains of a loved one, the family members left with the decision of what they will do with the ashes. Some families interred it in a cremation niche, which is how it should be in the first place, some make jewelry out of it known as cremation jewelry, and some display the urn inside their home and decorate with urn necklaces and jewelry.

Cremation or memorial jewelry, in which a portion of a loved one’s cremated remains are kept, is a way to honor and remember a loved one in a deeply personal way. It refers to a tiny hollow vessel or decorative container that holds a bit of the ash and worn like regular jewelry.

There are myriad choices as to what kind of jewelry you want, including necklaces, lockets, pendants, rings, charms, beads, and keychains. Family members are doing this because it allows each of them to keep a part of their loved one’s ashes, preserved as a wearable piece of art. It gives them the peace of mind that their loved one can always be with them.

Cremation jewelry can be either made from ashes or a container for a small amount of the cremated remains. The styles and designs of cremation jewelry include hearts, cylinders, religious symbols, and works of art. Materials used can be gold, sterling silver, copper, brass, stainless steel, glass, wood, crystal, pewter, titanium, porcelain, and ceramic.

Types of Cremation Jewelry

There are two general types of cremation jewelry; first, jewelry in which made out from the ashes or cremated remains itself; second, ashes placed inside a piece of jewelry.

Cremation jewelry is purchased from a funeral home, the staff can place the cremated remains inside the jewelry for you. If you are buying from a company specializing in cremation jewelry, they will send you a kit with step-by-step instructions on how to fill the jewelry, along with the purchased merchandise. A company that offers this kind of service is the Cremation Solutions, and they also give you categories regarding how you want to make your loved one’s cremated remains turn into jewelry.

Cremation jewelry made from ashes is transformed into cremation crystals and cremation diamonds. A portion of the ashes sent to the company providing this service, and they will deliver the jewelry to you once the process has been completed. This method is more expensive and time-consuming. The process of creating cremation diamonds can take as long as a year.

Cost of Cremation Jewelry

The cost of cremation jewelry, just like any other items, still varies depending on a chosen size, materials used, and how elaborate the piece is. Jewelry made from brass can cost $40, while gold-plated jewelry can cost $250 or more. Artist-created jewelry can cost several hundred dollars. Crystals made from cremated remains can cost from $400 up to $1,000, depending on the size and color of the crystal. Likewise, diamonds made from ashes can range in price from $3,000 to $20,000. Again, this depends on the size, color, and vendor or the service provider you will hire.

As the cremation rate continues to rise, interest in cremation jewelry is also increasing. You may be able to purchase cremation jewelry from your local funeral home or cremation service. A growing number of companies and individual artisans now offer crafted cremation jewelry.

Other DNA’s as a Jewelry

Aside from cremated remains, DNAs that belong to a person – either dead or alive, can now be made and included in a piece of jewelry. One example is fingerprint jewelry. It is another one-of-a-kind way to mark a special relationship, capturing the fingerprint or thumbprint of your loved one in a piece of jewelry¹ or keepsake.

For the new moms who want to keep mementos during and post pregnancy, some companies or artisans offer jewelry customization including breastmilk, the baby’s umbilical cord, placenta hair, nails, birthstones, and many more.

Just like the cremated remains turned into a wearable piece, other DNA jewelry can also be as a necklace, ring, earrings, charm or pendant. If you’re looking for this type of provider, you can check out Beyond the Willow Tree, The Breastmilk Jewelry, and Eternally Cherished.

Michael Johnston

I am a licensed funeral director and the owner of Beloved Cremations. My cremation center is licensed and certified to operate in Los Angeles, California as well as other nearby cities. I also write articles here and in other sites to help readers like you to navigate funeral and cremation process the easiest way possible. If you have general question about cremation, you can call us or leave a comment below.